MR. SPONGE'S SPORTING TOUR. - 119 



brown horse, rather rash at his fences, but a fine style of 

 goer." 



" What /" exclaimed Jawleyford, "a man in drab cords and 

 jack-boots, with the brim of his hat rather turning upwards ? " 



" Just so," replied Sponge ; " and a double ribbon for a hat- 

 string." 



" That's Master Blossomnose," observed Jawleyford, scarcely 

 uble to contain his indignation. " That's Master Blossomnose," 

 repeated he, taking a back hand at the port in the excitement of 

 the moment. " More to his credit if he were to stay at home 

 and attend to his parish," added Jawleyford ; meaning, it would 

 have been more to his credit if he had fulfilled his engagement to 

 him that evening, instead of going out hunting in the morning. 



The two then sat silent for a time, Sponge seeing where the sore 

 place was, and Robert Foozle, as usual, seeing nothing. 



"Ah, well," observed Jawleyford, at length breaking silence, 

 " it was unfortunate you went this morning. I did my best to 

 prevent you — told you what a long way it was, and so on. How- 

 ever, never mind, we will put all right to-morrow. His lordship, 

 I'm sure, will be most happy to see you. So help yourself," 

 continued he, passing the " Wintle," " and we will drink his health, 

 and success to fox-hunting." 



Sponge filled a bumper and drank his lordship's health, with 

 the accompaniment as desired ; and turning to Robert Foozle, 

 who was doing likewise, said, " Are you fond of hunting ?" 



" Yes, I'm fond of hunting," replied Foozle. 



" But you don't hunt, you know, Robert," observed Jawleyford. 



" No, I don't hunt," replied Robert. 



The " green seal " being demolished, Jawleyford ordered a bottle 

 of the " other," attributing the slight discoloration (which he did 

 not discover until they had nearly finished the bottle) to change of 

 atmosphere in the outer cellar. Sponge tackled vigorously with 

 the new-comer, which was better than the first ; and Robert 

 Foozle, drinking as he spoke, by pattern, kept filling away, much 

 to Jawleyford's dissatisfaction, who was compelled to order a 

 third. During the progress of its demolition, the host's tongue 

 became considerably loosened. He talked of hunting and the 

 charms of the chase — of the good fellowship it produced ; and 

 expatiated on the advantages it was of to the country in a national 

 point of view, promoting as it did a spirit of manly enterprise, and 

 encouraging our unrivalled breed of horses ; both of which he 

 looked opon as national objects, well worthy the attention of 

 enlightened men like himself. 



Jawleyford was a great patron of the chase ; and his keeper, 

 Watson, always had a bag-fox ready to turn down when my lord's 

 hounds met there. Jawleyford's covers were never known to be 



